Best VHS to DVD Converters

Review & Comparison, Last Update February 4, 2019

Want to preserve memories stored on VHS tapes from your youth, containing old home videos from birthdays and parties? Don't worry, you can always use a VCR to DVD converter to transfer the video from a VHS tape to a more modern format! Here are the top 5 to work with....Read more...Read less

The software has plenty of editing options, making it easier to bring old videotapes back up to modern standards in terms of picture quality.

CONS

The instructions aren't the best and you'll have to figure out some features on your own.

OUR VERDICT

This kit is arguably the best way to convert your videotapes to DVDs or even simple digital files. You can split files across multiple discs, upload the video to YouTube and Facebook with a single click, and convert hours of captured video in just a few minutes. The Roxio 251000 is compatible with pretty much all modern Windows OSes, making it suitable for any PC.

Works on Mac and syncs perfectly with the OS's built-in video editing software and programs meant for DVD burning.

CONS

The settings may be a bit sparse for more experienced users.

OUR VERDICT

This VHS to DVD burning software made specifically for Mac offers unrivaled quality, saving you from the usual headache of finding ways to launch incompatible programs on your MacBook. You get everything you need right out of the package and the capture process is automatized, though the editing software isn't the most powerful out there. This is a solid choice if you just want to transfer old VHS videos to a digital machine, but those seeking in-depth editing capabilities would have to look elsewhere.

This kit boasts the CyberLink Power Director software, one of the most acclaimed video editing programs out there. With the number of functions you get, a simple home video can be turned into a whole movie if you have the time and inclination.

CONS

The drivers that come with the purchase are outdated and you'll have to download new ones to keep the software working properly.

OUR VERDICT

Sometimes old footage deteriorates and leaves quite a lot to be desired. That's exactly when editing software like the CyberLink Power Director can be indispensable, letting you add special effects, automatically balancing color hues, stabilizing the picture, and more. Even if your videos are still pretty good quality, this kit will still find ways to improve upon it and you'll end up with beautiful footage that won't look out of place on a big-screen TV.

The guide that comes with this product is pretty extensive and helpful and you'll master the process of capturing video fast, even if you decide to use the device to stream footage from your Xbox or PlayStation.

CONS

Older videos with poorer quality may be converted with some artifacts.

OUR VERDICT

One of the few capture devices that makes video recording from Xbox and the PlayStation possible, which is good in our age of streamers and YouTube stars. It's also no slouch in terms of editing and capturing footage from VHS tapes, though there's only so much the software can do when it comes to old tapes with poorer quality. However, it's an affordable and sensible alternative to the expensive kits, many of which offer pretty much the same features with a few more bells and whistles.

You can record any kind of tape as long as it's playable and the quality will be identical to the source or better. And it's certainly one of the more affordable choices out there.

CONS

The software is a bit buggy at times though without any critical faults.

OUR VERDICT

While the software here is a bit buggy still the quality of the converted video is top-notch and the program and the device work with any kind of tape. A truly universal pick for VHS conversion, especially if you're working on a bit of a tight budget. It's compatible with all new Windows OS, doesn't stall during conversion, and offers all the perks of more expensive software without the hefty price tag.

Roxio 251000

Add New Colors to Your Memories

Many people have spent years recording significant moments in life onto basic VHS tapes and rewatching them during family holidays. However, the picture quality is likely poor, which becomes more and more apparent the bigger your flat-screen TV gets, and the format of a videotape has become outdated, causing quite a headache when it comes to preserving memories written on those tapes. But don’t fret, there’s always a solution, for example, the Roxio 251000, a digital format converter that allows you to copy data from an older medium to a newer one.

Let’s say your dad captured your first steps on his old camera, resulting in grainy and blurry footage. Sure, it’s still nice to see a milestone like this but with the Roxio 251000 kit you can clear up the picture and make it more presentable! The software that comes with your purchase lets you edit the video, reducing noise, adding special effects, and correcting the color palette. In fact, you can also stabilize the picture if it’s shaky, which seems unavoidable as no father could hold still while watching his child go for the first walk of his or her life!

And don’t worry about getting the hang of the program as all functions are laid out clearly on the interface and don’t require much time to master. We still wouldn’t have minded a thorough manual but the instructions you do get won’t be of much help and you’ll have to rely on your own wits.

Speedy Conversion and One-Click Uploading

While editing your home videos and improving them does sound nice, you have to copy them from those pesky VHS tapes first, right? Well, that’s going to be quite easy with the Roxio 25100 as the transfer of video to DVD requires just a few mouse clicks. Plug in the RCA cables, one end in the VCR or camera and the other in your capture device (which, of course, comes with the purchase) and link the converter to your PC. Then just use the software to drag all the necessary video files to your computer.

No need to rack your brains trying to fit several hours of video onto one disc, either. The Roxio software lets you split your home movies into several parts to spread them across several discs. And, just so you don’t confuse the DVDs later on, you can design labels in the very same program!

Also, we’re not saying you should be bragging about your first steps or showing off the cool birthday party you had as a kid… But we are saying that you can upload the video to YouTube, Facebook, or Apple devices right after ripping it. And if you’re too humble to boast about your rocking haircut from the 80’s to your friends, you can always send a link to the video to your out-of-state family so they can reminisce about the old days as well! All that in a span of a couple of minutes!

Don't Stop the Music

Hopefully, now you see why many consider the Roxio 251000 to be the best VHS to DVD converter out there. And, looking at how chock-full of handy features it is, we definitely agree. Plus, we haven’t even mentioned the fact that with this kit you can convert any old LPs or CDs to digital files, preserving music that may not even be available on iTunes and such. Of course, the primary use of the Roxio 251000 is still lightning-fast video conversion and editing, all of it designed so you can protect memories from your childhood! Give it a try and see how easily you can switch all of your tapes from analog to digital!

VIDBOX VFM1M

The Full Package

Macbook owners know the pains of finding working software for their laptops, especially if it’s something niche like, for example, VHS converter programs. But seek and you shall find as we’d like to recommend you the VIDBOX Video Conversion for Mac kit, equipped with a converting program designed specifically for the Mac OS.

You’ll find a lot to appreciate as soon as the product is out of the package. For one, the VIDBOX kit includes an RCA AV cable, which you can’t do without as you’ll have to connect your VCR to the capture device. Many competitors try to cut corners and don’t include this cable, making you go for additional purchases and wasting your time. Also, the guide that comes with the software is quite informative and extensive so you can learn how to rip and edit the video from scratch. Even if you don’t find the answer to your question, the company provides a toll-free phone support number that you can contact to solve your problem.

Do note that the program takes up to 15 GB of hard drive space, quite a substantial chunk. And, after you’ve converted some videos, the resulting files will take up even more so make sure you have plenty of storage in advance. Also, note that the drivers for the program need to be downloaded externally from the developer’s website, just so that your software is up to date and the device is working properly.

Quick Conversion from Any Format

Let’s take a moment to dig deeper into what the VIDBOX converter can do and how it does it. You simply connect the VCR to the capture box and hook the latter up to your Mac via the back USB port (the keyboard ones won’t have enough power to keep the device working). Ripping the actual videos from old 8mm, VHS, and even Beta tapes takes just a couple of clicks as you launch playback on the VCR and keep the program running in the background so it’s capturing the video. At that stage, you only need to make sure that the RCA cables are connected correctly or you may end up with an empty screen or static instead of the audio.

The VIDBOX converts analog tapes to the basic .MOV format with 640 x 480 resolution, which you can watch with the QuickTime player and edit to your preferences using the iMovie software. While the VIDBOX integrates well with the external editor, we still would have preferred for the same features to be included in the VIDBOX kit. Even burning the videos to a disc will require the iDVD software, which means that the VIDBOX program will only be used for capturing the footage from the tapes, not all that versatile. Still, the integration with other software is pretty smooth and the program runs well, which is always a plus.

Imperfect yet Excellent

So while we have indeed spotted some shortcomings in the VIDBOX Video Conversion for Mac kit, it’s still one of the better VHS to DVD converters that you can run on your Macbook, even if it lacks in features. The resulting video is pretty high-quality for a VHS rip and the fact that you get all the required parts in one purchase makes this a real bargain for thrifty customers. To sum up, if you have a MacBook and need to convert some tapes to a digital format, you can’t go wrong with the VIDBOX Video Conversion kit, all thanks to its easy-to-understand interface, an extensive manual, and stable video capture.

Diamond Multimedia VC500

The Most Powerful Editor

If you want to do more than just transfer videos from your old tapes to the digital world, you’re going to need a pretty powerful editor with plenty of features. However, a lot of software of this kind costs an arm and a leg and you’ll have to read a real doorstopper of a manual just to operate the program properly. Thankfully, there’s always a better choice and the Diamond VC500 is definitely in that category.

What you get in the package might not seem like much, as the little capture device has a simple design and not many people would be wowed by a software installation CD. With that in mind, when you actually check what program the Diamond Multimedia VC500 offers, you might just be impressed. This kit comes with the CyberLink Power Director, one of the top video editors, actually named the best of 2018 and given a stellar review by TechRadar.

Using the CyberLink editor you can convert the files to other formats that will be easier to playback on your machine, edit them to insert special effects, credits, and splice videos together. Oh, and the program can be set to automatically adjust color hues and brightness in captured videos so that you don’t have to fiddle with each of them separately, wasting your precious time.

Boost Video Quality upon Capture

You might be wondering how well the Diamond Multimedia VC500 actually captures the video and, as always, we’ve got the answer for you. All you need to do is get some RCA cables and connect your VCR machine to the Diamond conversion device, which is then hooked up to your PC via the USB cable included in the package. Afterwards, launch your software and start up the tape, the rest is done for you via the EZ Capture feature.

One thing you have to watch out for is how much free space you’ve got as a single hour of converted footage can take up as much as 3GB of storage so just a couple of old tapes can fill up your hard drive real quick. This is pretty understandable as the video is transferred in 720 x 480, improving the quality of old grainy footage a bit and raising the resolution. If you do start to run out of space, just use the same software to burn the videos to empty DVDs, preserving them in a new format.

By the way, while you’re converting one type of media for the digital age, you may want to take some of your old vinyl and convert it as well. And, of course, the Diamond Multimedia VC500 offers that option and the process is pretty much the same. Put on the record, turn on capture, wait for the album to finish, and you’re done!

Update and Get to Work

All in all, if you’re looking for truly extensive (and inexpensive!) software to convert and edit videos from old VHS tapes, the Diamond Multimedia VC500 is a great choice. You get myriad features, a high-quality capture device, and an easy-to-use program with lots of accolades from professional video editors. Just make sure to download the up-to-date drivers from the manufacturer’s website as the ones on the CD won’t work on Windows 10. Other than that, the product is ready to go out of the package and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more functional and effective video conversion kit, especially at such an affordable price.

Pinnacle Systems DVCPTENAM

Game On!

Most VHS to DVD conversion devices offer video capture from a pretty narrow range of sources such as VCRs and various cameras. But what about games that we grew up with? They are still among the things people look back on with fondness and capturing a gaming session with your younger brother or your kids can be a pretty fun experience. Or, perhaps, you’re trying to gain some fame as a streamer and want to try out some classic titles from the first Xbox or PlayStation? If your answer is “yes”, you’ll be excited to try out the Pinnacle Systems DVCPTENAM.

This kit comes with everything you need to hook up your consoles, VHS, Hi8, and V8 cameras, VCR, or DVD player to your PC or laptop and capture any video and audio that’s playing. You even get the RCA cables so you don’t have to buy them separately. If this is your first time doing video capture and trying to stream games or record footage from tapes, you should take advantage of the free “Getting Started” guide that comes with the purchase and describes the process in great detail.

Another reason why we think this is a good choice for video streaming is the fact that the conversion software does its best to improve the quality of the footage since the source may be a bit grainy and noisy. Thus, you can get HD video even when working with PlayStation or a VCR.

Recover Old Memories

Of course, capturing footage is just the first step because no matter how good your recording device is, it can’t smooth out all the imperfections found in the old VHS format. You’re going to need to balance the color hue, edit out dead air, maybe even add some special effects or intertitles. Thankfully, most of this can be done in a matter of minutes by using the Pinnacle Studio for Dazzle, the special software included in the kit. Whether you want to mess around with the contrast or splice several home videos together into one long movie about your family, any editing-related task should be done via this program, especially since you’ll have a guide to back you up.

If you’re not worried about editing, you can simply adjust the output options so that the captured video is uploaded directly to the Internet or a mobile device. But here’s a word of warning, if you’re working with particularly old footage you may want to give the editing a go just in case as the VHS tapes deteriorate over time and the resulting video may have some artifacts. That’s why editing can be vital as, after all, the whole point of bringing VHS footage over to the digital age is to improve its quality and preserve it in good condition.

Bring Your Past to the World of HD

To sum up, the Pinnacle Systems DVCPTENAM can help you capture video from more sources than most of its competitors and, to top it off, do a better job of turning the old footage to HD quality. Of course, it doesn’t work that well with older tapes and the software requires quite a bit of processing power, which means your computer will be taken up for the duration of video capture. Try to make sure that your PC is far above the minimum requirements and can handle prolonged recording and has the space for hours of video. And while that may not be easily accessible to everyone we’d still say that the quality is worth it since, after all, memories are priceless.

ClearClick VHS To DVD

Ease the Task

Preserving memories is very important but while scanning old photos or making a copy of a DVD with home movies is easy, doing so for older media types such as VHS can be a heck of a chore. Luckily, the process is simplified thanks to the likes of the ClearClick VHS to DVD Grabber.

Although you won’t have much help in the way of instructions, the program that comes with the grabber is easy to navigate and you should have no issues getting it up and running. Only those with the absolute minimum of tech knowledge will need a guide but those are readily available on YouTube in any case.

Now, what you do get is accessories to make things easier. Chief among them is the excellent ClearClick USB capture device. It’s well-made with a sturdy USB cable that doesn’t snap under pressure and bends well. The device itself can be hooked up to any VCR via the RCA transfer cable that you also get with the purchase. You can even record footage directly from a camera though it has to have an RCA port for that. Alternatively, you can spring for an adapter if you really want to get video straight from the cam.

No Restrictions on Conversion

Now, let’s talk a little about the software that you get with the ClearClick VHS to DVD Grabber. We have to admit that it has a nice and simple interface and worked reasonably well in terms of getting the job done. We did encounter a few freakish bugs such as the window refusing to change its size and the progress bar freezing for a while instead of accurately depicting how far along you are. Still, these are pretty minor and the manufacturer chose to give users a way out. The ClearClick USB capture device is fully compatible with other video conversion software so if you don’t like the one supplied with the product, you can switch over to the one you prefer.

In terms of tech, we were initially surprised by the above-average system requirements. It quickly became clear, though, that the program utilizes your PC capabilities to the max and thus works well, providing quality that’s equal to the source at worst and even a bit better most of the time. If you want to see old tapes with a bit of a remaster on them, this is a very good find.

Last but not least we have to point out that the RCA connection method means you can record any type of tape from a device with an RCA port. This means the Betamax and S-VHS as well, so you can really digitize your collection without using multiple methods or wasting time trying to work out compatibility kinks.

Worth a Try

To make a long story short, the ClearClick VHS to DVD Grabber might be a tad buggy but it doesn't have any critical flaws that would make it less viable of a choice. Instead, it offers great compatibility with OS and VCR players alike, coming in a kit with a USB converter and an RCA transfer cable. The ClearClick VHS to DVD Grabber works reasonably well, offers great video quality, and can work with any kind of tape or even straight with a camera, as long as the required port is available. So if you have a library of tapes to digitize, the ClearClick VHS to DVD Grabber is a great and budget-friendly pick for sure.

ClearClick VHS To DVD

What Is a VHS to DVD Converter?

For years and years, we all captured precious moments of our lives via photographs and home videos, recorded on basic cheap cameras. However, progress and time are marching on and while VHS tapes can last a while, they'll soon become completely obsolete and any information kept on them will be lost to the ages. If you want to preserve your memories, you're going to need to transfer VHS to DVD or even Blu-ray. Doing so is quite simple if you have the right hardware and software and, while you can opt to ask for professional help and spend hundreds on each of the tapes, you can give it a try at home instead. Most of the time, these devices represent a VHS to DVD recorder, which simplifies video and audio transfers substantially. Coupled with top-of-the-line software, they make for perfect transfer packages.

And after you've digitized your old videos and left the basic analog age behind, you're going to need a good DVD player to watch the new versions and appreciate them. In fact, you could try out a portable DVD player so you'll always have a device handy. That way you can even show old memories to relatives that might not have a player at home.